Fruitbearers

The best and greatest book in the world is the Bible (God's Word)! It's definitely life-changing! For new Christians, it can be daunting to read and understand the Bible. Often they feel overwhelmed and don't know where they should start. The Good Book by Deron Spoo is an excellent book that gives readers 40 highlights from the Bible. Hopefully, it will encourage and motivate readers to read the rest of the Bible. Even for those who have read the Bible regularly for years, it offers fresh insights and fuels the passion and appreciation for God's love letter even more. The book is divided into 8 main sections: In the Beginning, God Is Good When Life Gets Messy, God Is Big, Tough Love; Troubled Times, Jesus Has Just Entered the Building, Jesus Won't Leave Us as We Are, Following Jesus, and God's Message for You. There are five chapters in each section. Though I am familiar with all 40 chapters (half from the Old Testament and half from the New Testament...

As a mother of three who are 23 (about to graduate from college), 18 (working and deciding whether to go to college), and 15 (homeschooling), I have been experiencing both the joy and the anxiety of letting go. I want to help my children spread their wings and soar successfully in this wide world. Yet sometimes I don't want them to grow up too fast or too independent. This book aims to help ease the letting go process so that it will be not only effective but also enjoyable. Each of the 52 devotional readings begins with an insightful quote and ends with Thought Poke (including great questions for reflection), and a relevant Bible verse. Each devotional reading is short and concise. The author offers valuable lessons from her own personal experiences and practical advice. The Joy of Letting Go  helps parents be prepared mentally and emotionally as they equip their children for independence and adjust themselves to changes. It's an easy, encouraging read! " Yo...

One can never have too many Bibles, right :)? I love studying God's Word. I was so thrilled to have an opportunity to review the NKJV Woman's Study Bible!  I chose the imitation leather one. It's simple and elegant on the outside; it's colorful and delightful on the inside. The NKJV version has always been one of my favorites. One reason is that it capitalizes all the nouns and pronouns referring to God/Jesus/the Holy Spirit. This new NKJV Waoman's Study Bible includes many fantastic features such as  detailed profiles of women in the Bible (even some obscure ones), study notes, book introductions & outlines, topical articles on various life issues, insightful quotes, maps, charts, and more. I'm glad that the font is big and easy to read. I personally collect quotes; therefore, I enjoy the quotes from godly women throughout history. I'm a visual learner so I really appreciate all the visual aids in this Bible. For example, I'm reading Philippian...

The giveaway winner was randomly chosen using random.org. The winner is Vinny Johnson. Congratulations!   Laura Story's new album, Open Hands, is now in stores. I love Laura's beautiful voice and passionate heart for God.  Laura Story is a gifted song writer.  This new album is filled with meaningful, worshipful, reflective songs. Below is the list of songs. 1. Death Was Arrested 2. Open Hands 3. You Came Running 4. Give You Faith 5. For the Love of My King 6. Awake My Soul (A 1000 Tongues) 7. Whisper 8. Every Word You Breathe 9. Majesty 10. Extraordinary 11. Grace Abounds The first song, Death Was Arrested , reminds us of God's love, grace, & mercy and our life & freedom in Christ. One of my favorite songs in this album is Open Hands , a song about faith and surrender (featuring Third Day's Mac Powell). You Came Running talks about hope and comfort we find in God & His faithfulness. As a mom, I can relate to the song, Give You Faith...

We, especially moms, seem to struggle with finding balance. Too many things to juggle! Lisa Pennington has been there and done that. She is a homeschooling mom of 9 children. Lisa shares stories from her own experiences and offers practical ideas for finding and keeping balance in our lives. How do you define what balance is? It's easier to tell when we are out of balance. Symptoms may include stress, anxieties, depression, discouragement, guilt, sleepless nights, feeling overwhelmed, etc. There are different areas in a woman's life that can get out of balance. The author covers all the important areas such as marriage, motherhood, home management, ministry and work, friendship, finance, speech, moods, and more. Causes vary. The recent death of my mother-in-law really knocked me of balance. This book came to me at an opportune time. I find this quote in the book ministering to my heart: " Balance is the result of an intentional reaction to an extreme situation. We ar...

Do you know any controlling, manipulative persons in your life? They are not pleasant to be around, are they? I know I don't want to become one. Maybe you yourselves have struggled with the desire to control. I know I have at times. This desire or craving usually makes things worse and produces the results that are opposite of what we expect/want. It also brings about anger, frustration, stress, fear, anxiety, discontent, pressure, and conflicts. It often damages relationships. The author of Control Girl shares valuable lessons from seven women in the Bible who had the control problem: Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, and Miriam. Their control issues led to a mess which serves as a warning for us. Shannon Popkin points out that there's a better way to live. Relinquishing control (surrendering all to God who truly is in control) and living by faith lead to a beautiful & victorious life. A life of sweet surrender brings peace, joy, and freedom. On the contrary, the...

2016 has been a year of healing and new experiences. 1. In January, my left eye was practically blind due to vitreous hemorrhage. God graciously gave me back my sight. 2. After living with intense (sometimes excruciating) pain for approximately 10 years (or more) due to Adenomyosis, I decided to have a partial hysterectomy (keeping my ovaries and cervix) on March 8th. God blessed me with a successful surgery and a quick recovery. Life with no chronic pain is such a blessing that I never want to take for granted. 3. Alyssa got her driving license on March 25th. 4. On April 9th, Eric, Josiah, and I hiked at Silver Falls. 5. This year, Isaiah raised $2,242 for Steps for Life and won third place in his age group. 6. On May 29th, we (except Alyssa) visited Mirror Lake and Trillium Lake. 7. On June 9th, Josiah had his first job interview with Wendy's and got the job. 8. In June, I had my first jury process experience (although I wasn't selected). 9. Alyssa did an internship...